More divers arrive overnight to help with river search

Mar. 16, 2013

Elisha Page / Argus Leader

Divers from Pierre and Arnold's Park, Iowa traveled to Sioux Falls overnight to assist in the recovery of the body of Lyle Eagletail, 28, from the Big Sioux River at Falls Park.

The third day of a search of the river and along its banks was getting organized after 9 a.m. Saturday, according to Doug Blomker, assistant emergency management director for Minnehaha County.

Eagletail and Madison Wallace, 16, of Vermillion leaped into the river below the falls late Thursday afternoon to save Wallace's brother, Garrett, 6, who had fallen in.

The child was saved, but neither Madison Wallace nor Eagletail emerged from the water. Her body was discovered Friday afternoon.

Overall, about 20 divers working in shifts of three and three crews from Sioux Falls Fire Rescue -- 12 firefighters in all plus a battalion chief -- will continue the search throughout daylight hours today.

Capt. Michael Koopman, of Sioux Falls Fire Rescue, said while the search for Eagletail's body was suspended after dark Friday firefighters kept watch on the scene overnight.

As the search was getting under way Saturday, Blomker said four to six inches of foam covered the surface of the water, and it appeared some ice had reformed on the river overnight. Thick ice below the falls had hampered searchers Thursday evening and Friday until it was removed or smashed with heavy equipment. Ice removal may be required again today, Blomker said.

Blomker and Koopman say the search today will likely move north a bit, downstream, toward a lowhead dam. Divers and search crews will work back toward the falls from there.

Also, Blomker said, searchers on four wheelers will cruise the riverbanks north of the dam. "We want to make sure nothing got past us overnight," he said.